![Angela Mihai FIMA FLSW](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/8934?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Professor Angela Mihai
FIMA FLSW
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Teams and roles for Angela Mihai
Head of Applied and Computational Mathematics Group
Overview
I am a member of the Applied and Computational Mathematics Research Group, the Tissue Microenvironment Group, the Discrete Mathematics and Data Science Research Team, and the Materials Research Network.
I enjoy formulating and solving mathematical problems to address important questions in science, engineering, and everyday life. I also take pleasure in developing new mathematical approaches and pursuing further questions along the way. A particularly exciting line of my enquiry is how models and techniques can be translated across different fields. The interdisciplinary insight this brings is always very rewarding.
In focus
Publication
2026
- Poudel, R. , Şengül, Y. and Mihai, L. A. 2026. A numerical model for the viscoelastic behaviour of liquid crystal elastomers. Engineering with Computers 42 (4) 119. (10.1007/s00366-026-02352-y)
- Mihai, L. A. and Modes, C. D. 2026. Editorial for special collection on liquid crystal elastomers and their theory [Editorial]. Journal of Elasticity 158 (9)(10.1007/s10659-026-10186-4)
2025
- Paparini, S. , Giusteri, G. G. and Mihai, L. A. 2025. Shape instabilities driven by topological defects in nematic polymer networks. Journal of Elasticity 157 (4) 69. (10.1007/s10659-025-10160-6)
- Poudel, R. , Sengul, Y. and Mihai, L. A. 2025. Deformation localisation in viscoelastic liquid crystal elastomers. Presented at: UK Association for Computational Mechanics Conference 2025 London, UK 23-25 April 2025.
- Liu, Y. , Goriely, A. and Mihai, L. A. 2025. Elephant trunk wrinkles: A mathematical model of function and form. Nonlinearity 38 (3) 035004. (10.1088/1361-6544/adaf6c)
2024
- Poudel, R. , Sengul, Y. and Mihai, L. A. 2024. Deformation localisation in stretched liquid crystal elastomers. Mechanics of Soft Materials 6 8. (10.1007/s42558-024-00063-2)
- Mihai, L. A. and Goriely, A. 2024. Controllable deformations of unconstrained ideal nematic elastomers. Journal of Elasticity 156 (1), pp.95-106. (10.1007/s10659-023-10038-5)
- Mihai, L. A. 2024. A mathematical mechanics mixed tape: Editor's foreword to special issue in honor of Alain Goriely [Editorial]. Mathematics and Mechanics of Solids 29 (6), pp.1049-1052. (10.1177/10812865231210188)
- Mihai, L. A. 2024. A theoretical model for power generation via liquid crystal elastomers. Mathematics and Mechanics of Solids 29 (6), pp.1198-1215. (10.1177/10812865231193735)
- Mahardika, N. et al., 2024. All-atom molecular dynamics simulations of nematic liquid crystal elastomers. International Journal of Solids and Structures 291 112717. (10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2024.112717)
2023
- Mihai, L. A. 2023. A theoretical liquid crystal elastomer model that mimics the elasticity of cat skin. Mechanics of soft materials 5 4. (10.1007/s42558-023-00051-y)
- Mihai, L. A. et al. 2023. A predictive theoretical model for stretch-induced instabilities in liquid crystal elastomers. Liquid Crystals 50 (7-10), pp.1426-1438. (10.1080/02678292.2022.2161655)
- Mihai, L. A. et al. 2023. Anti-Hertz bulging of actuated liquid crystal elastomers. Extreme Mechanics Letters 64 102066. (10.1016/j.eml.2023.102066)
- Goriely, A. , Moulton, D. E. and Mihai, L. A. 2023. A rod theory for liquid crystalline elastomers. Journal of Elasticity 153 , pp.509-532. (10.1007/s10659-021-09875-z)
2022
- Mihai, L. A. et al. 2022. A mathematical model for the auxetic response of liquid crystal elastomers. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences 380 20210326. (10.1098/rsta.2021.0326)
- Buze, M. , Woolley, T. E. and Mihai, L. A. 2022. A stochastic framework for atomistic fracture. SIAM Journal on Applied Mathematics 82 (2), pp.526-548. (10.1137/21M1416436)
- Mihai, L. A. 2022. Stochastic elasticity: a nondeterministic approach to the nonlinear field theory. Interdisciplinary Applied Mathematics Switzerland: Springer. (10.1007/978-3-031-06692-4)
2021
- Mihai, L. A. and Goriely, A. 2021. Instabilities in liquid crystal elastomers. MRS Bulletin 46 , pp.784-794. (10.1557/s43577-021-00115-2)
- Mihai, L. A. et al. 2021. Nematic liquid crystalline elastomers are aeolotropic materials. Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences 477 (2253) 20210259. (10.1098/rspa.2021.0259)
- Goriely, A. and Mihai, L. A. 2021. Liquid crystal elastomers wrinkling. Nonlinearity 34 (8) 5599. (10.1088/1361-6544/ac09c1)
- Mihai, L. A. and Alamoudi, M. 2021. Likely oscillatory motions of stochastic hyperelastic spherical shells and tubes. International Journal of Non-Linear Mechanics 130 103671. (10.1016/j.ijnonlinmec.2021.103671)
2020
- Mihai, L. A. and Goriely, A. 2020. A plate theory for nematic liquid crystalline solids. Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids 144 104101. (10.1016/j.jmps.2020.104101)
- Mihai, L. A. and Goriely, A. 2020. A pseudo-anelastic model for stress softening in liquid crystal elastomers. Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences 476 (2243) 20200558. (10.1098/rspa.2020.0558)
- Mihai, L. A. and Goriely, A. 2020. Likely striping in stochastic nematic elastomers. Mathematics and Mechanics of Solids 25 (10), pp.1851-1872. (10.1177/1081286520914958)
- Mihai, L. A. , Woolley, T. and Goriely, A. 2020. Likely cavitation and radial motion of stochastic elastic spheres. Nonlinearity 33 (5) 1987. (10.1088/1361-6544/ab7104)
- Schweickert, E. et al., 2020. A note on non-homogeneous deformations with homogeneous Cauchy stress for a strictly rank-one convex energy in isotropic hyperelasticity. International Journal of Non-Linear Mechanics 119 103282. (10.1016/j.ijnonlinmec.2019.103282)
2019
- Fitt, D. et al. 2019. Uncertainty quantification of elastic material responses: testing, stochastic calibration and Bayesian model selection. Mechanics of Soft Materials 1 13. (10.1007/s42558-019-0013-1)
- Mihai, L. A. 2019. Power in numbers: The rebel women of mathematics by Talithia Williams [Book Review]. London Mathematical Society Newsletter 485 , pp.49-50.
- Mihai, L. A. et al. 2019. Likely cavitation in stochastic elasticity. Journal of Elasticity 137 (1), pp.27-42. (10.1007/s10659-018-9706-1)
- Mihai, L. A. , Woolley, T. and Goriely, A. 2019. Likely chirality of stochastic anisotropic hyperelastic tubes. International Journal of Non-Linear Mechanics 114 , pp.9-20. (10.1016/j.ijnonlinmec.2019.04.004)
- Mihai, L. A. et al. 2019. Likely equilibria of stochastic hyperelastic spherical shells and tubes. Mathematics and Mechanics of Solids 24 (7), pp.2066-2082. (10.1177/1081286518811881)
- Mihai, L. A. , Woolley, T. E. and Goriely, A. 2019. Likely equilibria of the stochastic Rivlin cube. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences 377 (2144) 20180068. (10.1098/rsta.2018.0068)
- Mihai, L. et al. 2019. Likely oscillatory motions of stochastic hyperelastic solids. Transactions of Mathematics and Its Applications 3 (1) tnz003. (10.1093/imatrm/tnz003)
- Wyatt, H. et al. 2019. Nonlinear scaling effects in the stiffness of soft cellular structures. Royal Society Open Science 6 (1) 181361. (10.1098/rsos.181361)
2018
- Schweickert, E. , Mihai, L. A. and Neff, P. 2018. Homogeneous Cauchy stress induced by non-homogeneous deformations. Presented at: 89th Annual Meeting of the International Association of Applied Mathematics and Mechanics (GAMM) Munich, Germany 19-23 March 2018. Proceedings in Applied Mathematics and Mechanics (PAMM) Vol. 1. Wiley. , pp.1-2. (10.1002/pamm.201800185)
- Safar, A. and Mihai, L. A. 2018. The nonlinear elasticity of hyperelastic models for stretch-dominated cellular structures. International Journal of Non-Linear Mechanics 106 , pp.144-154. (10.1016/j.ijnonlinmec.2018.08.006)
- Mihai, L. A. , Safar, A. and Wyatt, H. L. 2018. Debonding of cellular structures with fibre-reinforced cell walls under shear deformation. Journal of Engineering Mathematics 109 (1), pp.3-19. (10.1007/s10665-016-9894-2)
- Mihai, L. A. and Neff, P. 2018. Hyperelastic bodies under homogeneous Cauchy stress induced by three-dimensional non-homogeneous deformations. Mathematics and Mechanics of Solids 23 (4), pp.606-616. (10.1177/1081286516682556)
- Mihai, L. A. , Woolley, T. and Goriely, A. 2018. Stochastic isotropic hyperelastic materials: constitutive calibration and model selection. Proceedings of the Royal Society A 474 (2211) 201708. (10.1098/rspa.2017.0858)
2017
- Mihai, L. A. and Goriely, A. 2017. How to characterize a nonlinear elastic material? A review on nonlinear constitutive parameters in isotropic finite elasticity. Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences 473 (2207) 0607. (10.1098/rspa.2017.0607)
- Mihai, L. A. et al. 2017. A family of hyperelastic models for human brain tissue. Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids 106 , pp.60-79. (10.1016/j.jmps.2017.05.015)
- Mihai, L. A. , Wyatt, H. and Goriely, A. 2017. A microstructure-based hyperelastic model for open-cell solids. SIAM Journal on Applied Mathematics 77 (4), pp.1397-1416. (10.1137/16M1098899)
- Safar, A. , Wyatt, H. L. and Mihai, L. A. 2017. Debonding of cellular structures under shear deformation. Presented at: 25th Conference of the UK Association for Computational Mechanics University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK 11-13 April 2017.
- Mihai, L. A. , Wyatt, H. L. and Goriely, A. 2017. Microstructure-based hyperelastic models for closed-cell solids. Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences 473 (2200) 20170036. (10.1098/rspa.2017.0036)
- Lee, C. et al. 2017. Strain smoothing for compressible and nearly-incompressible finite elasticity. Computers & Structures 182 , pp.540-555. (10.1016/j.compstruc.2016.05.004)
- Neff, P. and Mihai, L. A. 2017. Injectivity of the Cauchy-stress tensor along rank-one connected lines under strict rank-one convexity condition. Journal of Elasticity 127 (2), pp.309-315. (10.1007/s10659-016-9609-y)
- Mihai, L. A. and Neff, P. 2017. Hyperelastic bodies under homogeneous Cauchy stress induced by non-homogeneous finite deformations. International Journal of Non-Linear Mechanics 89 , pp.93-100. (10.1016/j.ijnonlinmec.2016.12.003)
- Mihai, L. A. 2017. The ascent of Mary Somerville in 19th century society by Elisabetta Strickland [Book Review]. London Mathematical Society Newsletter March (467), pp.29-30.
- Mihai, L. A. , Alayyash, K. and Wyatt, H. L. 2017. The optimal density of cellular solids in axial tension. Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering 20 (7), pp.701-713. (10.1080/10255842.2017.1292352)
- Wyatt, H. L. et al. 2017. Optical strain measurement techniques for soft cellular structures. Presented at: BSSM 12th International Conference on Advances in Experimental Mechanics Sheffield, UK 29 - 31 August 2017.
2016
- Wyatt, H. L. et al. 2016. Computer modelling of cellular structures under uniaxial loading. Presented at: 24th Conference of the UK Association on Computational Mechanics Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK 31 March - 1 April 2016. Cardiff: , pp.184-187.
- Mihai, L. A. and Goriely, A. 2016. Guaranteed upper and lower bounds on the uniform load of contact problems in elasticity. Siam Journal on Applied Mathematics 76 (4), pp.1558-1576. (10.1137/15M1046563)
- Wyatt, H. L. , Alayyash, K. and Mihai, L. A. 2016. Optimising material density of cellular bodies in high elastic deformations. Presented at: 24th International Congress of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics Montreal, Canada 21-25 August 2016.
2015
- Mihai, L. A. et al. 2015. A comparison of hyperelastic constitutive models applicable to brain and fat tissues. Journal of the Royal Society Interface 12 (110), pp.-. 20150486. (10.1098/rsif.2015.0486)
- Mihai, L. A. and Goriely, A. 2015. Finite deformation effects in cellular structures with hyperelastic cell walls. International Journal of Solids and Structures 53 , pp.107-128. (10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2014.10.015)
- Mihai, L. A. , Alayyash, K. and Goriely, A. 2015. Paws, pads, and plants: The enhanced elasticity of cell-filled load-bearing structures. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series A 471 (2178) 20150107. (10.1098/rspa.2015.0107)
2014
- Mihai, L. A. and Goriely, A. 2014. Nonlinear Poisson effects in soft honeycombs. Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences 470 (2169) 20140363. (10.1098/rspa.2014.0363)
2013
- Mihai, L. A. 2013. Cardiff students hold first SIAM Chapter Day. SIAM News 2013 (1 Apr)
- Mihai, L. A. and Goriely, A. 2013. Numerical simulation of shear and the Poynting effects by the finite element method: An application of the generalised empirical inequalities in non-linear elasticity. International Journal of Non-Linear Mechanics 49 , pp.1-14. (10.1016/j.ijnonlinmec.2012.09.001)
2011
- Mihai, L. A. and Goriely, A. 2011. Positive or negative Poynting effect? The role of adscititious inequalities in hyperelastic materials. Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences 467 (2136), pp.3633-3646. (10.1098/rspa.2011.0281)
2010
- Mihai, L. A. 2010. A fixed-point approach to the limit load analysis of multibody structures with Coulomb friction. Computers & Structures 88 (13-14), pp.859-869. (10.1016/j.compstruc.2010.04.005)
2009
- Ainsworth, M. and Mihai, L. A. 2009. An adaptive multi-scale approach to the modelling of masonry structures. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering 78 (10), pp.1135-1163. (10.1002/nme.2520)
- Mihai, L. A. and Ainsworth, M. 2009. A finite element procedure for rigorous numerical enclosures on the limit load in the analysis of multibody structures. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering 199 (1-4), pp.48-60. (10.1016/j.cma.2009.09.018)
- Mihai, L. A. and Ainsworth, M. 2009. An adaptive multi-scale computational modelling of Clare College Bridge. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering 198 (21-26), pp.1839-1847. (10.1016/j.cma.2008.12.030)
- Mihai, L. A. and Craig, A. W. 2009. Alternate slice-based substructuring in three dimensions. Ima Journal of Numerical Analysis 29 (3), pp.508-538. (10.1093/imanum/drn023)
2007
- Ainsworth, M. and Mihai, L. A. 2007. Modeling and numerical analysis of masonry structures. Numerical Methods for Partial Differential Equations 23 (4), pp.798-816. (10.1002/num.20253)
2006
- Ainsworth, M. and Mihai, L. A. 2006. A comparison of solvers for linear complementarity problems arising from large-scale masonry structures. Applications of Mathematics 51 (2), pp.93-128. (10.1007/s10492-006-0008-8)
- Mihai, L. A. and Craig, A. W. 2006. Alternate strip-based substructuring algorithms for elliptic PDEs in two dimensions. Ima Journal of Numerical Analysis 26 (2), pp.354-380. (10.1093/imanum/dri025)
2005
- Mihai, L. A. and Craig, A. W. 2005. A two-grid alternate strip-based domain decomposition strategy in two-dimensions. In: Kornhuber, R. et al., Domain Decomposition Methods in Science and Engineering. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. , pp.661-668. (10.1007/3-540-26825-1_71)
Articles
- Poudel, R. , Şengül, Y. and Mihai, L. A. 2026. A numerical model for the viscoelastic behaviour of liquid crystal elastomers. Engineering with Computers 42 (4) 119. (10.1007/s00366-026-02352-y)
- Mihai, L. A. and Modes, C. D. 2026. Editorial for special collection on liquid crystal elastomers and their theory [Editorial]. Journal of Elasticity 158 (9)(10.1007/s10659-026-10186-4)
- Paparini, S. , Giusteri, G. G. and Mihai, L. A. 2025. Shape instabilities driven by topological defects in nematic polymer networks. Journal of Elasticity 157 (4) 69. (10.1007/s10659-025-10160-6)
- Liu, Y. , Goriely, A. and Mihai, L. A. 2025. Elephant trunk wrinkles: A mathematical model of function and form. Nonlinearity 38 (3) 035004. (10.1088/1361-6544/adaf6c)
- Poudel, R. , Sengul, Y. and Mihai, L. A. 2024. Deformation localisation in stretched liquid crystal elastomers. Mechanics of Soft Materials 6 8. (10.1007/s42558-024-00063-2)
- Mihai, L. A. and Goriely, A. 2024. Controllable deformations of unconstrained ideal nematic elastomers. Journal of Elasticity 156 (1), pp.95-106. (10.1007/s10659-023-10038-5)
- Mihai, L. A. 2024. A mathematical mechanics mixed tape: Editor's foreword to special issue in honor of Alain Goriely [Editorial]. Mathematics and Mechanics of Solids 29 (6), pp.1049-1052. (10.1177/10812865231210188)
- Mihai, L. A. 2024. A theoretical model for power generation via liquid crystal elastomers. Mathematics and Mechanics of Solids 29 (6), pp.1198-1215. (10.1177/10812865231193735)
- Mahardika, N. et al., 2024. All-atom molecular dynamics simulations of nematic liquid crystal elastomers. International Journal of Solids and Structures 291 112717. (10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2024.112717)
- Mihai, L. A. 2023. A theoretical liquid crystal elastomer model that mimics the elasticity of cat skin. Mechanics of soft materials 5 4. (10.1007/s42558-023-00051-y)
- Mihai, L. A. et al. 2023. A predictive theoretical model for stretch-induced instabilities in liquid crystal elastomers. Liquid Crystals 50 (7-10), pp.1426-1438. (10.1080/02678292.2022.2161655)
- Mihai, L. A. et al. 2023. Anti-Hertz bulging of actuated liquid crystal elastomers. Extreme Mechanics Letters 64 102066. (10.1016/j.eml.2023.102066)
- Goriely, A. , Moulton, D. E. and Mihai, L. A. 2023. A rod theory for liquid crystalline elastomers. Journal of Elasticity 153 , pp.509-532. (10.1007/s10659-021-09875-z)
- Mihai, L. A. et al. 2022. A mathematical model for the auxetic response of liquid crystal elastomers. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences 380 20210326. (10.1098/rsta.2021.0326)
- Buze, M. , Woolley, T. E. and Mihai, L. A. 2022. A stochastic framework for atomistic fracture. SIAM Journal on Applied Mathematics 82 (2), pp.526-548. (10.1137/21M1416436)
- Mihai, L. A. and Goriely, A. 2021. Instabilities in liquid crystal elastomers. MRS Bulletin 46 , pp.784-794. (10.1557/s43577-021-00115-2)
- Mihai, L. A. et al. 2021. Nematic liquid crystalline elastomers are aeolotropic materials. Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences 477 (2253) 20210259. (10.1098/rspa.2021.0259)
- Goriely, A. and Mihai, L. A. 2021. Liquid crystal elastomers wrinkling. Nonlinearity 34 (8) 5599. (10.1088/1361-6544/ac09c1)
- Mihai, L. A. and Alamoudi, M. 2021. Likely oscillatory motions of stochastic hyperelastic spherical shells and tubes. International Journal of Non-Linear Mechanics 130 103671. (10.1016/j.ijnonlinmec.2021.103671)
- Mihai, L. A. and Goriely, A. 2020. A plate theory for nematic liquid crystalline solids. Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids 144 104101. (10.1016/j.jmps.2020.104101)
- Mihai, L. A. and Goriely, A. 2020. A pseudo-anelastic model for stress softening in liquid crystal elastomers. Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences 476 (2243) 20200558. (10.1098/rspa.2020.0558)
- Mihai, L. A. and Goriely, A. 2020. Likely striping in stochastic nematic elastomers. Mathematics and Mechanics of Solids 25 (10), pp.1851-1872. (10.1177/1081286520914958)
- Mihai, L. A. , Woolley, T. and Goriely, A. 2020. Likely cavitation and radial motion of stochastic elastic spheres. Nonlinearity 33 (5) 1987. (10.1088/1361-6544/ab7104)
- Schweickert, E. et al., 2020. A note on non-homogeneous deformations with homogeneous Cauchy stress for a strictly rank-one convex energy in isotropic hyperelasticity. International Journal of Non-Linear Mechanics 119 103282. (10.1016/j.ijnonlinmec.2019.103282)
- Fitt, D. et al. 2019. Uncertainty quantification of elastic material responses: testing, stochastic calibration and Bayesian model selection. Mechanics of Soft Materials 1 13. (10.1007/s42558-019-0013-1)
- Mihai, L. A. 2019. Power in numbers: The rebel women of mathematics by Talithia Williams [Book Review]. London Mathematical Society Newsletter 485 , pp.49-50.
- Mihai, L. A. et al. 2019. Likely cavitation in stochastic elasticity. Journal of Elasticity 137 (1), pp.27-42. (10.1007/s10659-018-9706-1)
- Mihai, L. A. , Woolley, T. and Goriely, A. 2019. Likely chirality of stochastic anisotropic hyperelastic tubes. International Journal of Non-Linear Mechanics 114 , pp.9-20. (10.1016/j.ijnonlinmec.2019.04.004)
- Mihai, L. A. et al. 2019. Likely equilibria of stochastic hyperelastic spherical shells and tubes. Mathematics and Mechanics of Solids 24 (7), pp.2066-2082. (10.1177/1081286518811881)
- Mihai, L. A. , Woolley, T. E. and Goriely, A. 2019. Likely equilibria of the stochastic Rivlin cube. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences 377 (2144) 20180068. (10.1098/rsta.2018.0068)
- Mihai, L. et al. 2019. Likely oscillatory motions of stochastic hyperelastic solids. Transactions of Mathematics and Its Applications 3 (1) tnz003. (10.1093/imatrm/tnz003)
- Wyatt, H. et al. 2019. Nonlinear scaling effects in the stiffness of soft cellular structures. Royal Society Open Science 6 (1) 181361. (10.1098/rsos.181361)
- Safar, A. and Mihai, L. A. 2018. The nonlinear elasticity of hyperelastic models for stretch-dominated cellular structures. International Journal of Non-Linear Mechanics 106 , pp.144-154. (10.1016/j.ijnonlinmec.2018.08.006)
- Mihai, L. A. , Safar, A. and Wyatt, H. L. 2018. Debonding of cellular structures with fibre-reinforced cell walls under shear deformation. Journal of Engineering Mathematics 109 (1), pp.3-19. (10.1007/s10665-016-9894-2)
- Mihai, L. A. and Neff, P. 2018. Hyperelastic bodies under homogeneous Cauchy stress induced by three-dimensional non-homogeneous deformations. Mathematics and Mechanics of Solids 23 (4), pp.606-616. (10.1177/1081286516682556)
- Mihai, L. A. , Woolley, T. and Goriely, A. 2018. Stochastic isotropic hyperelastic materials: constitutive calibration and model selection. Proceedings of the Royal Society A 474 (2211) 201708. (10.1098/rspa.2017.0858)
- Mihai, L. A. and Goriely, A. 2017. How to characterize a nonlinear elastic material? A review on nonlinear constitutive parameters in isotropic finite elasticity. Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences 473 (2207) 0607. (10.1098/rspa.2017.0607)
- Mihai, L. A. et al. 2017. A family of hyperelastic models for human brain tissue. Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids 106 , pp.60-79. (10.1016/j.jmps.2017.05.015)
- Mihai, L. A. , Wyatt, H. and Goriely, A. 2017. A microstructure-based hyperelastic model for open-cell solids. SIAM Journal on Applied Mathematics 77 (4), pp.1397-1416. (10.1137/16M1098899)
- Mihai, L. A. , Wyatt, H. L. and Goriely, A. 2017. Microstructure-based hyperelastic models for closed-cell solids. Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences 473 (2200) 20170036. (10.1098/rspa.2017.0036)
- Lee, C. et al. 2017. Strain smoothing for compressible and nearly-incompressible finite elasticity. Computers & Structures 182 , pp.540-555. (10.1016/j.compstruc.2016.05.004)
- Neff, P. and Mihai, L. A. 2017. Injectivity of the Cauchy-stress tensor along rank-one connected lines under strict rank-one convexity condition. Journal of Elasticity 127 (2), pp.309-315. (10.1007/s10659-016-9609-y)
- Mihai, L. A. and Neff, P. 2017. Hyperelastic bodies under homogeneous Cauchy stress induced by non-homogeneous finite deformations. International Journal of Non-Linear Mechanics 89 , pp.93-100. (10.1016/j.ijnonlinmec.2016.12.003)
- Mihai, L. A. 2017. The ascent of Mary Somerville in 19th century society by Elisabetta Strickland [Book Review]. London Mathematical Society Newsletter March (467), pp.29-30.
- Mihai, L. A. , Alayyash, K. and Wyatt, H. L. 2017. The optimal density of cellular solids in axial tension. Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering 20 (7), pp.701-713. (10.1080/10255842.2017.1292352)
- Mihai, L. A. and Goriely, A. 2016. Guaranteed upper and lower bounds on the uniform load of contact problems in elasticity. Siam Journal on Applied Mathematics 76 (4), pp.1558-1576. (10.1137/15M1046563)
- Mihai, L. A. et al. 2015. A comparison of hyperelastic constitutive models applicable to brain and fat tissues. Journal of the Royal Society Interface 12 (110), pp.-. 20150486. (10.1098/rsif.2015.0486)
- Mihai, L. A. and Goriely, A. 2015. Finite deformation effects in cellular structures with hyperelastic cell walls. International Journal of Solids and Structures 53 , pp.107-128. (10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2014.10.015)
- Mihai, L. A. , Alayyash, K. and Goriely, A. 2015. Paws, pads, and plants: The enhanced elasticity of cell-filled load-bearing structures. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series A 471 (2178) 20150107. (10.1098/rspa.2015.0107)
- Mihai, L. A. and Goriely, A. 2014. Nonlinear Poisson effects in soft honeycombs. Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences 470 (2169) 20140363. (10.1098/rspa.2014.0363)
- Mihai, L. A. 2013. Cardiff students hold first SIAM Chapter Day. SIAM News 2013 (1 Apr)
- Mihai, L. A. and Goriely, A. 2013. Numerical simulation of shear and the Poynting effects by the finite element method: An application of the generalised empirical inequalities in non-linear elasticity. International Journal of Non-Linear Mechanics 49 , pp.1-14. (10.1016/j.ijnonlinmec.2012.09.001)
- Mihai, L. A. and Goriely, A. 2011. Positive or negative Poynting effect? The role of adscititious inequalities in hyperelastic materials. Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences 467 (2136), pp.3633-3646. (10.1098/rspa.2011.0281)
- Mihai, L. A. 2010. A fixed-point approach to the limit load analysis of multibody structures with Coulomb friction. Computers & Structures 88 (13-14), pp.859-869. (10.1016/j.compstruc.2010.04.005)
- Ainsworth, M. and Mihai, L. A. 2009. An adaptive multi-scale approach to the modelling of masonry structures. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering 78 (10), pp.1135-1163. (10.1002/nme.2520)
- Mihai, L. A. and Ainsworth, M. 2009. A finite element procedure for rigorous numerical enclosures on the limit load in the analysis of multibody structures. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering 199 (1-4), pp.48-60. (10.1016/j.cma.2009.09.018)
- Mihai, L. A. and Ainsworth, M. 2009. An adaptive multi-scale computational modelling of Clare College Bridge. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering 198 (21-26), pp.1839-1847. (10.1016/j.cma.2008.12.030)
- Mihai, L. A. and Craig, A. W. 2009. Alternate slice-based substructuring in three dimensions. Ima Journal of Numerical Analysis 29 (3), pp.508-538. (10.1093/imanum/drn023)
- Ainsworth, M. and Mihai, L. A. 2007. Modeling and numerical analysis of masonry structures. Numerical Methods for Partial Differential Equations 23 (4), pp.798-816. (10.1002/num.20253)
- Ainsworth, M. and Mihai, L. A. 2006. A comparison of solvers for linear complementarity problems arising from large-scale masonry structures. Applications of Mathematics 51 (2), pp.93-128. (10.1007/s10492-006-0008-8)
- Mihai, L. A. and Craig, A. W. 2006. Alternate strip-based substructuring algorithms for elliptic PDEs in two dimensions. Ima Journal of Numerical Analysis 26 (2), pp.354-380. (10.1093/imanum/dri025)
Book sections
- Mihai, L. A. and Craig, A. W. 2005. A two-grid alternate strip-based domain decomposition strategy in two-dimensions. In: Kornhuber, R. et al., Domain Decomposition Methods in Science and Engineering. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. , pp.661-668. (10.1007/3-540-26825-1_71)
Books
- Mihai, L. A. 2022. Stochastic elasticity: a nondeterministic approach to the nonlinear field theory. Interdisciplinary Applied Mathematics Switzerland: Springer. (10.1007/978-3-031-06692-4)
Conferences
- Poudel, R. , Sengul, Y. and Mihai, L. A. 2025. Deformation localisation in viscoelastic liquid crystal elastomers. Presented at: UK Association for Computational Mechanics Conference 2025 London, UK 23-25 April 2025.
- Schweickert, E. , Mihai, L. A. and Neff, P. 2018. Homogeneous Cauchy stress induced by non-homogeneous deformations. Presented at: 89th Annual Meeting of the International Association of Applied Mathematics and Mechanics (GAMM) Munich, Germany 19-23 March 2018. Proceedings in Applied Mathematics and Mechanics (PAMM) Vol. 1. Wiley. , pp.1-2. (10.1002/pamm.201800185)
- Safar, A. , Wyatt, H. L. and Mihai, L. A. 2017. Debonding of cellular structures under shear deformation. Presented at: 25th Conference of the UK Association for Computational Mechanics University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK 11-13 April 2017.
- Wyatt, H. L. et al. 2017. Optical strain measurement techniques for soft cellular structures. Presented at: BSSM 12th International Conference on Advances in Experimental Mechanics Sheffield, UK 29 - 31 August 2017.
- Wyatt, H. L. et al. 2016. Computer modelling of cellular structures under uniaxial loading. Presented at: 24th Conference of the UK Association on Computational Mechanics Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK 31 March - 1 April 2016. Cardiff: , pp.184-187.
- Wyatt, H. L. , Alayyash, K. and Mihai, L. A. 2016. Optimising material density of cellular bodies in high elastic deformations. Presented at: 24th International Congress of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics Montreal, Canada 21-25 August 2016.
Research
My research lies at the interface of applied mathematics, mechanics, and the physical and life sciences, integrating mathematical theory, computational methods, and interdisciplinary collaboration. I have built a sustained interdisciplinary research programme in stochastic elasticity, liquid crystal elastomers and soft biological tissues while simultaneously demonstrating major leadership in research culture, disciplinary service, postgraduate development, and inclusive community-building within UK applied mathematics.
For further insights, please visit my profiles on Google Scholar, MathSciNet, ORCID, ResearchGate, Scopus, Web of Science, zbMath, and TopSciNet.
Funded projects
- Poroelastic modelling of infusion-based drug delivery in the brain, Advanced Neurotherapies Centre, Cardiff University (2026), Research supported by Health and Care Research Wales
- Learning macroscopic models for multibody systems of hyperelastic materials, International Centre for Mathematical Sciences (ICMS), Edinburgh (2024), Research in groups supported by EPSRC Grant EP/R015007/1 to ICMS
- Pattern formation in soft materials: reduced models and nonlinear analysis, HORIZON-MSCA-2022 Postdoctoral Fellowship to Dr Yang Liu, University of Oxford, UK (2023 - 2025)
- Uncertainty quantification and stochastic modelling of materials, Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Cambridge (2023), Research programme supported by EPSRC Grant EP/R014604/1to INI
- Mathematical modelling and numerical analysis of liquid crystal elastomers, Full PhD studentship, College of Physical Sciences and Engineering, Cardiff University (2022 - 2026)
- Limit analysis of debonding states in multi-body systems of stochastic hyperelastic material, EPSRC Grant EP/S028870/1 (2019 - 2022)
- Debonding and stretching of biogenic cellular structures, Full PhD studentship, College of Physical Sciences and Engineering, Cardiff University (2015 - 2019)
- Limit analysis of collapse states in cellular solids, EPSRC Grant EP/M011992/1 (2015 - 2017)
Special events organisation
- Retreat for women in applied mathematics, International Centre for Mathematical Sciences (ICMS), Edinburgh (2025), Strategic workshop supported by EPSRC Grant EP/Z000467/1 to ICMS
- Retreat for women in applied mathematics, International Centre for Mathematical Sciences (ICMS), Edinburgh (2024), Strategic workshop supported by EPSRC Grant EP/R015007/1 to ICMS
- Retreat for women in applied mathematics, International Centre for Mathematical Sciences (ICMS), Edinburgh (2023), Strategic workshop spported by EPSRC Grant EP/R015007/1 to ICMS
Video recordings
- Liquid crystal elastomers: theory and applications, International Centre for Mathematical Sciences (January 2024)
- Uncertainty quantification and stochastic modelling of materials: Organiser interview, Isaac Newton Institute (August 2023)
- Instabilities in liquid crystal elastomers, Isaac Newton Institute (July 2023)
- Mathematics and mechanics of liquid crystal elastomers, Journal of Engineering Mathematics Webinar (October 2022)
- Mathematics and mechanics of liquid crystal elastomers, Cardiff Applied and Computational Mathematics Seminar (November 2021)
- The mathematics and continuum mechanics of liquid crystal elastomers, LMS Prospects in Mathematics (September 2021)
- Women in STEM, Cardiff (March 2017)
Cover image
- A molecular dynamics simulation of liquid crystal elastomers, Proceedings of the Royal Society A 477, issue 2253, September 2021
ECMI blog post
Teaching
I am a fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy. Over the years, I have been committed to supporting people in the early and developing stages of their careers through teaching, supervision, collaboration, and mentoring.
Courses taught
- Methods of Applied Mathematics
- Year 3 Mathematics (from 2025)
- Introduction to Mathematical Modelling of Liquid Crystal Elastomers
- PhD-level Mathematics (2023 - 2024)
- Numerical Analysis
- Year 2 Mathematics (2013 - 2024)
- Finite Elasticity
- Year 3 Mathematics (2020 - 2022)
- MSc and Year 4 Mathematics (2015 - 2020)
- Classical Mechanics
- Year 1 Mathematics (2012 - 2017)
I offer a wide range of projects to 3rd and 4th year undergraduate students.
Biography
Career overview
I began my mathematical journey as an undergraduate at the University of Bucharest, Romania, and continued with Part III of the Mathematical Tripos at the University of Cambridge, supported by a full Shell Centenary Scholarship awarded by Shell Group and the Cambridge University Trust. In 2005, I completed my PhD in numerical analysis at Durham University. I then held postdoctoral positions at the University of Strathclyde, University of Cambridge, and University of Oxford, where I developed expertise in the mathematics and mechanics of solids, a key research area with multidisciplinary applications. I joined Cardiff in 2011 as a University Lecturer and have since progressed to my current role.
Honours and awards
- Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales (2025)
- Fellow of the Institute of Mathematics and Its Applications (2024)
- Cardiff University Outstanding Contribution Award (2015)
Professional memberships
- Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM)
- Vice President of SIAM-UKIE Section (2023 - 2025)
- Secretary & Treasurer of SIAM-UKIE Section (2014 - 2016)
- Cambridge Hosts 20th Anniversary Meeting of the UKIE SIAM Section (2016)
- SIAM-UKIE New Media to Help Increase Impact of Members' Activities in the Wider Community (2014)
- Faculty Adviser of SIAM-IMA Student Chapter at Cardiff University
- SIAM-UKIE National Student Chapter Conference (2024)
- Cardiff Students Hold First SIAM Chapter Day (2013)
- International Brain Mechanics and Trauma Lab (IBMTL)
- The British Liquid Crystal Society (BLCS)
Committees and reviewing
- Guest Editor
- Associate Editor
- Member of Editorial Advisory Board
- Member of Editorial Board
- Mechanics of Soft Materials (Springer)
- Research Councils Services
Supervisions
Postdoctoral researchers
- Dr Yang Liu, Research fellow, HORIZON-MSCA-2022 (2023-2025)
- Dr Thomas Raistrick, Research associate, EP/S028870/1 (2022)
- Dr Maciej Buze, Research associate, EP/S028870/1 (2019 - 2022)
- Dr Hayley Wyatt, Research associate, EP/M011992/1 (2015 - 2017)
Current supervision
Past projects
- Dr Manal Alamoudi, PhD thesis (2018 - 2022)
- Dr Danielle Fitt, PhD thesis (2018 - 2021)
- Dr Alexander Safar, PhD thesis (2015 - 2019)
- Dr Khulud Alayyash, PhD thesis (2013 - 2017)
News articles
Contact Details
Abacws, Room 5.14, Senghennydd Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4AG
Research themes
Specialisms
- Applied mathematics
- Materials modelling
- Optimisation
- Scientific computing
- Stochasticity
